Laylat Al-Qadr – A Most Distinguished Night

Though all parts of Ramadhan are full of blessings and rewards, its last ten days hold a special status reflected in the recommendations and practices of Prophet Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him - pbuh), and his companions. These are the nights that the Prophet (pbuh) used to spend in constant worship, doa and dhikr. It is in these last ten days of Ramadhan that we strive to seek Laylat Al-Qadr - the greatest night of the year like the Day of `Arafah is the greatest day of the year. It is a night about which Allah revealed a full Surah, Surah Al-Qadr and the 3rd to the 6th verses of Surat ad-Dukhan.

What is Laylat Al-Qadr?

Laylat Al-Qadr is:

• The night when the Qur'an was reveled.
• The night when the Message (the Final and seal of all messages) sent to Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) started.
• The night when the light, that would illuminate mankind to the end of life, started.
• The night when every matter of ordainment is decreed.

In Surah Al-Qadr, Allah says:

(From on high, We [Allah] bestowed it [i.e. the Qur'an] on the Night of Decree. Would that you knew what the Night of Decree is! The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. On that night, the angels and the Spirit by their Lord's permission descend with all His decrees. That night is peace, till the break of dawn.) (Surah Al-Qadr 97:1-5)

According to Sayed Qutb (1906-1966), a prominent and influential Muslim intellectual and writer, “this surah speaks (loosely translated as "the Supreme Society," including Allah and the angels). That night marked the beginning of the revelation of the Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), an event unparalleled in the history of humankind for its splendour and the significance it has for the life of humankind as a whole.”

Seeking Laylat Al-Qadr

Abu Hurairah related that the Prophet (pbuh) said: "Whoever spends Laylat Al-Qadr in prayer, believing in Allah and seeking His reward, all his past sins will be forgiven." (Hadith Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

We do not know on what exact night Laylat Al-Qadr falls. Some of the Hadiths indicate that Lailatul-Qadr is in the last ten nights, while others indicate that it is in the odd nights of the last ten, i.e. 21^st, 23^rd, 25^th, the 27^th and the 29^th of Ramadhan. Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said, "Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of Ramadhan, on the night when nine or seven or five nights remain out of the last ten nights of Ramadhan (i.e. 21, 23, 25, respectively)." [Hadith Bukhari]

The best way for a Muslim to seek this special night is by spending and maximising the last ten nights of Ramadhan engaged in various acts of worship. These include reading the Qur'an, dhikr (remembrance of Allah), and begging Allah's forgiveness. The Prophet (pbuh) strove his best in seeking it during that time by engaging in these acts. The Prophet (pbuh) would stay up during the last ten nights, would wake his wives, and then would remain apart from them to worship.

Some of the recommended acts of worship (which are by no means exhaustive) during the last ten nights of Ramadhan include:

1. Take a vacation for Allah: We take a break from our jobs for almost everything in life. Why not this time to focus on worshiping and thanking our Creator. Taking vacation can make it easier to stay awake at night to do extra ibadah, not having to worry about getting to work the next day. It will also facilitate doing i’tikaf.

2. Do I'tikaf: It was a practice of the Prophet to spend the last ten days and nights of Ramadhan in the mosque for i'tikaf. Those in i'tikaf stay in the mosque all this time, performing various forms of dhikr, like doing extra solat (prayer), recitation and study of the Quran.

3. Making Doa (supplication) of Laylat Al-Qadr: Imam Ahmad recorded from `A’ishah that she said, “"O Messenger of Allah! If I find the Night of Laylat Al-Qadr what should I say?”" He replied, "Say: O Allah! Verily, You are the Oft-Pardoning, You love to pardon, so pardon me." (Hadith At-Tirmidhi). The transliteration of this Dua is "Allahumma innaka 'afuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annaa".

4. Recite and reflect on the meaning of the Quran: You can choose Surahs or passages from the Quran, which you have heard in the Tarawih prayer. If you attend a class where the recitation of the Quran is taught, this is a great time to put your knowledge into practice. Choose the latest Surah or Surahs you've heard in Tarawih and read their translation and Tafseer. Then think deeply about their meaning and how it affects you on a personal level.

5. Make a personal Doa list: Ask yourself what you really want from Allah. Make a list of each and everything, no matter how small or how big, whether it deals with this world or not. Allah loves to hear from us. Once this list is ready, you can do three things: (a) ask Allah to give you those things; (b) think about what actions you have taken to get those things, and (c) develop a work plan to get those things in future.

6. Evaluate yourself (muhassabah diri): Ask yourself the questions that need to be asked. Evaluate where you are and where you are going. Let this evaluation lead you to feel happiness for the good you have done and remorse for the bad you have done.

7. Make up with other Muslims: Quarrelling and disagreement was the reason why the exact day of Laylat Al-Qadr was not revealed to us, so we should not lose its reward by making the same mistake. `Ubadah ibn As-Samit narrated that the Prophet (pbuh) came out to inform us about the Night of Qadr but two Muslims were quarrelling with each other. Therefore, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "I came out to inform you about Laylat Al-Qadr but such-and-such persons were quarrelling, so the news about it was taken away; yet that might be for your own good, so search for it on the 29th, 27th and 25th (of Ramadhan)” (Hadith Al-Bukhari).

8. Show extra generosity: We are encouraged to be extra generous during the last ten nights of Ramadhan. Ibn `Abbas related: "Allah's Messenger (pbuh) was the most generous of all people in doing good, and he was at his most generous during the month of Ramadhan. Jibreel used to meet with him every year throughout the month of Ramadhan, so the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) could recite the Qur'an to him. Whenever Jibreel met with him, he became more generous than a beneficial breeze." (Hadith Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

9. Have Iftar with the family: If you've spent Iftar time on weekdays in your cubicle at work alone with a couple of dates, now is the last few days you'll have this Ramadhan to spend with your family. Use it wisely.

10. Take the family to Tarawih: Have your spouse and kids missed Tarawih most of Ramadhan because you weren't there to drive them to the mosque, which is too far away to walk to? If so, do all of yourselves a favour and bring everyone for Tarawih in these last ten nights.

11. To do list for Laylat Al-Qadr: Make a to-do checklist for each Laylat Al-Qadr night. This should define how you would like your night, the one better than a thousand months, to be used. Pick things from this list and define the sequence you would like to do things in. This will help you avoid wasting your time in unproductive chats which common in the festive atmosphere of mosques at the Laylat Al-Qadr.

[Source: islamonline and islamicity ]



One last note:

Firstly, I urge all Muslims to maximise the last ten days of Ramadhan. We should all pray to Allah, the All Mighty and Most Merciful, to bless us this Ramadhan by witnessing Laylatul-Qadr.

Secondly, I urge all Muslims that we strive to bring about the unity of our Muslim brothers in this country. We all know the squabbling that has preoccupied unceasingly our fellow Muslims from UMNO and PAS. Let us pray the Muslims from both parties at least do two of the recommended acts mentioned above: evaluate themselves (muhassabah diri) and make up, i.e. forgive and forget. Forget politics that divide, think and act like Muslims, for only under Islam can they unite. Islam forbids its followers to be divisive, so why should they continue to squabble and tear at each other? Let us all hope and pray for a united ummah in these last ten days of the blessed Ramadhan.